SIBLING RIVALRY

Chesney and SaDee Watkins love to show horses, especially when they can compete against each other.

- ABIGAIL BOATWRIGHT

Did you become interested in horses because your parents had them, or maybe you saw a friend riding? For brother-sister duo Chesney and SaDee Watkins, their introduction came from a South Texas horse trainer, and the two fell headlong into a sport their parents knew nothing about. But once they got a taste for allaround, these South Carolina-based kids were totally hooked on the horse show game. And they've got no plans of stopping.

THE START

The Watkins have four children: Elijah, 27, AnneDee, 16, Chesney, 13 and SaDee, 12. Chesney and SaDee are siblings adopted by the Watkins at birth. AnneDee has disabilities and was already enjoying equine-assisted therapy when the family lived in Virginia. But SaDee and Chesney had never ridden before.

"AnneDee was doing PATH therapy from 8 years old, and Chesney and SaDee would watch when they were little bitty," says their mom, JoDee Watkins. "One day Chesney said, 'I want to ride a horse.' And I was like, 'OK, I mean we're all going to be there, so get on a horse.' Then all three of them did lessons."

Chesney connected with horses on an emotional level as well.

"My favorite thing about horses is they help with anxiety and stress, and I just like riding horses," he says.

STEPPING UP

Their local equine therapy barn took the kids to a show for fun, and the Watkins siblings had a ball.